Now a new style of “hybrid” technology organization is emerging that is trying to define a path between the nonprofit world and traditional for-profit ventures.

They’re often referred to as “social enterprises” because they pursue social missions instead of profits. But unlike most nonprofit groups, these organizations generate a sustainable source of revenue and do not rely on philanthropy. Earnings are retained and reinvested rather than being distributed to shareholders.

The new companies, like thousands of Silicon Valley start-ups before them, typically begin as small groups of intensely motivated people dedicated to the goal of building a product or service.

The best-known examples are efforts like the Mozilla Corporation, which maintains and develops the Firefox Web browser, and TechSoup, an organization that was started two decades ago to connect technology experts with nonprofit groups. It now distributes commercial software to nonprofit groups in 14 countries. (Mozilla’s mission is to preserve choice and innovation on the Internet, which it considers a social good.)

By most measures both companies, with hundreds of employees, qualify as vibrant businesses. Each has revenue in excess of $50 million annually.

Moreover, there is also a range of smaller organizations, like the Internet Archive in San Francisco, with smaller but sustainable revenue streams. Significantly, an ecosystem is emerging that involves support groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which provides legal services, and the Internet Systems Consortium, which plays the role of an independent Internet service provider for the community.

“There is a lot of discussion taking place right now about a whole new organization form around social enterprise,” said James Fruchterman, president of Benetech, a social enterprise incubator based in Palo Alto. “Many of these efforts can make money; they will just never make enough to provide venture capital rates of return.”

Tim Fiori
4/1/2008
Lexington Center
465 N Perry St.
Johnstown, NY 12095
Tel: 518 736 3931

When you hear about a musical group that has been approached by filmmakers and television executives, has a new custom tour bus and a tour schedule so full they have to turn gigs away, Bon Jovi or Aerosmith might come to mind. However the band that’s getting all this attention is FLAME, a group from upstate New York, made up of people with developmental and physical disabilities, including paralysis, autism, Down’s syndrome, mental retardation and blindness. For the band from Lexington Center, Fulton County Chapter, NYSARC, Inc., their fame is growing fast but their message remains the same.

FLAME wants to change the world through music. They are a phenomenon that inspires and changes the way the general public view people with disabilities by making their overwhelming abilities the focus. People of all ages and backgrounds connect with this special band, especially children and those who have a disability. The steady fan mail tells the story of changed attitudes and changed lives. The feedback from parents of children with disabilities is probably the most overwhelming. They are often overcome with emotion watching FLAME, as it gives them hope that their child can have a fun, fulfilling life and achieve great things.

FLAME began in 2003 from a recreation program at Lexington, a not-for-profit agency serving people with developmental disabilities. The plan was to have the band play at the agency and around town. However the profound effect they have on their audiences made it impossible to keep FLAME within the confines of Fulton County. Word spread and requests for hire began pouring in and FLAME now averages over 90 paid performances per year, with concerts all over the Northeast. Their song list contains over 100 classic standard rock, country and blues songs from the past five decades.

In addition to the various mental challenges of the members, several of them live with physical disabilities. The drummer/vocalist, David LaGrange, is blind and mentally challenged. He walks with a cane and although he needs to be led to his drum set and seated before each performance, he needs no help once the band starts playing. He knows the location of each drum and cymbal and has an amazing talent to play and create harmonies for any song. Nick Robinson, the bass player and only member not born with his disability, uses a wheelchair after a severe illness left him paralyzed from the legs down. He also had to re-learn to play the bass, re-training his brain how to make his fingers move properly. Falon McBride, a vocalist/percussionist, has severe hip dysphasia and walks with a crutch. Scott Stuart, vocalist/bongo player, has cerebral palsy and is blind. He uses a wheelchair and needs a lift to transport him on the bus and into hotel beds when the band is on the road.

The band’s disabilities seem to fade away when they hit the stage and not long into the first song the audience does not see a band of people with limitations, they see a talented rock band creating great music. In fact Metroland Magazine named Flame the “Best Cover Band” in the New York State capital region for 2007. The popular publication said the band won this award because…”they are a great band, period.”
In contrast to the dismal, sometimes horrific, institutions where many people like the members of Flame are placed, these talented individuals are living in harmony within the community, succeeding and changing the perceptions of the general public. The band members have overcome many obstacles to meet the challenges of a non-stop traveling band. Touring is grueling for any band, yet despite their severe physical limitations Flame just enjoys performing their music for their fans. The band travels with five direct care staff workers to handle their special needs and has a full time management staff. Fundraising made it possible to purchase a customized tour bus, complete with a wheelchair lift, wheelchair accessible bathroom, hoyer lift, and customized seats. The kitchenette and TV/media system help them pass the time as they travel over 10,000 miles per year.

Projects like recording an album in a recording studio also requires creative thinking to accommodate a band living in a world set up for people without disabilities. White Lake Studios, where they recorded their first two CDs, responded with ramps, a flexible schedule, and video conferencing throughout several different rooms to make it possible to record.

FLAME has made the transition from a local band to a regional act in high demand and now has their sights set on national fame. With two strong selling CDs and full tour schedule, FLAME is beginning to get the attention of the national entertainment industry. In addition to looking into film documentary opportunities, a production company has approached FLAME with interest in developing a national concert event to create awareness for disabilities.

As FLAME continues their quest to change the world, their following of adoring fans continues to grow. If you would like more information or would like to book FLAME please go to the website www.flametheband.com or contact Tim Fiori at Lexington Center at 518-736-3931. We are always looking to open new doors for Flame. If you know of any opportunities that could help Flame continue to change the world please contact us. You can order their CDs “All For A Reason”, a collection of cover songs and their “Holiday Classics” CD, online at www.flametheband.com, or by calling Lexington.

Check out the new video clip of Flame in concert on You Tube:

Check out Flame live at an upcoming show that is open to the public:

4/13/08 – Amsterdam, NY

5/23/08 – Flame’s Annual Concert at the Glove Theatre, Gloversville, NY

See the website for times and details.

Let me relate a short story to you.

This past New Years, while sitting over a bottle of wine in a lovely French restaurant on 21st St, a friend of mine who happens to be a corporate attorney specializing in securing venture capital told me about a new product in development. She (rather casually I might add) mentioned a headset which could control computers solely by thought. She told me how the developers of this technology were having great trouble actually securing capital because it was a gaming device.

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, I was dumbfounded, excited, and realized I was standing on the brink of the biggest developmental paradox of the future. Right there, over a nice fromage and fruit plate.

‘A gaming device???!’ I thought to myself? No. It’s a revolution. A revolution in a lousy $300 box. I couldn’t understand why the obvious usage, control of environment and restoration of independence for people with limited mobility wasn’t the target market. I was absolutely astonished. Gaming? No funding? These people are sitting on a not only a goldmine of profit but also a gift to society of epic proportion! Why are they saddling themselves with the stigma of ‘computer gaming’? No technology investor will touch anything these days without a very very solid business case — too many people got burned in the bubble. Why not go for medical research money? Why not approach engineering think tanks for assistive device technology?

After thinking about it for about 3.4 seconds, I realized the problem was the medical regulatory committees of the world. The studies and funding and research would be red taped to death and all too often the product wouldn’t ever see the light of day — after all the developers are two guys in a basement. And even with funding, the process can take decades to get something to market. We live, on average 72 years as human beings. Wasting 20 years of that seems a crime. Gaming. It makes sense. Off-book usage of gaming devices…they can’t be regulated. Or stopped.

Since the day the Borg appeared on a Star Trek screen, I think everyone knew that resistance really WAS futile. The melding of technology to the human body has been happening for years in prosthetics and other medical devices; it will only continue to become more sophisticated. The holodeck, and the continued striving for it within the gaming community, is another technology that will eventually happen. Rudimentary versions are already available. I often wonder though, do people really realize what these things will mean to the people who are often overlooked by society?

Regardless of their humble, and often scorned, origins, these things aren’t just for gaming. They aren’t just toys. We will undoubtedly find that they will have a world changing impact on humanity…on the day to day lives of both the enabled and disabled. The pioneers of the technologies that will change the lives of billions are likely to be swigging beer, eating pizza, and thinking about the best way to beat the other guy playing Halo. Perhaps that isn’t so radical (lookin’ at you Mr. Gates and Mr. Jobs), but it is always kind of…shocking to really acknowledge.

Imagine a world where someone who is completely incapable of any movement at all, can simply think about moving letters on a computer screen…or making a TDD telephone call from an enabled iPhone…full two way communication with the world is restored. Imagine a world where a person in a coma can communicate with the outside world, if it’s only doctors able to spy on the thoughts and activities of their brains. Are they hurting? Can they hear us? Is there really anything going on in there at all? Imagine being able to control a small robot to carry books and food and the small luxuries of life, like the remote control from the couch to your bedside, with just a thought.

It truly is inevitable. Hopefully the medical research committees, and the thinktanks at the big boys shops will come around — developing technologies for ‘gaming’ rather than medicine. A simple reclassification could change the lives of millions within a year or two, rather than decades from now. Dr. X, Primary Gaming Device Researcher. Heh.

Who knew it would all come down to a simple question: Would you like to play a game?